When Hornby Island wildlife is injured, ill, or in distress, there are some special people to aid them that we call the HORNBY EAGLE ADVANCED RESPONSE TEAM (aka HEART). Composed primarily of Hornby Island residents boonibarb and winterwren, HEART responds to reports of wildlife possibly in need of help, assesses the situation, and takes action if needed.

In 2010, rescued eaglets Niner, Brig, and Decker were successfully rehabilitated and released. In 2011, Oriole, a seal pup, and Shredder, an eaglet, were also rescued and released after rehab care. This (2013) summer alone, HEART has rescued four eagles, one heron, and one seal pup.

In each case, the HEART team member was assisted by local Hornby Island folks who stepped up to help with the nets, towels, or other rescue gear. In the case of a buck entangled in a net, helpers kept the animal covered with blankets to keep him calm while boonibarb carefully cut through each strand entwined around the buck's antlers & jaw.

Norm Snihur, a private helicopter pilot, transported the seal pups as well as one of the eaglets to different wildlife care centers. Unsuspecting travelers waiting in line for the ferry agreed to take eagles and other birds to Buckley Bay, where they were met by representatives of HEGPS or MARS for transport to the rehab centre.

Sometimes the animals are so severely injured that they are not held long but must be humanely euthanized. In happier cases, the animal is treated at the rehab centre and ultimately released to the wild. In Decker's case, he was held for several months, first at MARS and then at NIWRA (North Island Wildlife Recovery Association), before being released. Other eaglets have been fostered at O.W.L. (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society) until they were healthy enough to be returned to Vancouver Island for release.

How can you be a "Friend with HEART" ?

As you might imagine, care at a wildlife rehab facility can be costly. In the past, HEGPS has held auctions and sponsorship drives in order to donate to those centres where Hornby Island wildlife have been treated. Most recently, individual members of HEGPS sent donations to MARS to sponsor "Big Blue" who came from the Tribune Bay area. Currently, "Big Blue" is at OWL to use their big flight cage, "Salal" an eaglet from Whaling Station Bay is at MARS, and "Fathom" a seal pup is at Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre (IWNCC) on Salt Spring Island.

If you would like to be one of the "Friends with HEART" and both honor the HEART team as well as help out the animals' caregivers, please consider supporting the rehab effort by making a contribution to the rehab centres, either directly or through HEGPS. We (HEGPS) have set up a "Hornby Wildlife Sponsorship Fund" in order to either help with rehab costs for rescued wildlife and/or sponsor the release of that creature back to its wild home.

To contribute via HEGPS please see our website: http://www.hornbyeagles.com/support.htmThe easiest way is to use the PayPal donate button on that page. The next easiest way is to log in to your own PayPal account and enter the following address under the "send money" tab: donate@hornbyeagles.comPlease be sure to include a "message to recipient" that your donation is for the Hornby Wildlife Sponsorship Fund.

If you prefer to donate directly to the rehab centres, please be sure to mention Hornby Island when you make your contribution.

"Niner" - bald eaglet from Nest #9, cared for and released by MARS. Read about his rescue HERE and even more HERE

July 26

"Brig" - bald eaglet from Nest Brigantine, cared for and released by MARS. Read HERE and HERE for the story.

August 14

"Decker" - bald eaglet from Nest#15, cared for at MARS and then transferred to NIWRA; released nearly one year later on July 29, 2011. Read booni's post about his rescue HERE. Video and news story of his release is posted HERE

2011

August 15

"Oriole" - seal pup from Whaling Station Bay, cared for and released by IWNCC - see the story HERE

August 16

"Shredder" - bald eaglet from Helliwell Park. Named for his habit of shredding his bedding while at MARS. Cared for and released by MARS. Read the story, starting HERE

August?

Juvenile Cooper*s Hawk found on side of road near Bradsdadsland Campsite. Had been captured & but in small carrier. Taken to Buckley Bay & met by MARS, but had died on the trip over.

2012

June 4

Large Eagle reported down near washed-up Sea Lion in Belcarra territory. Likely injured from fighting over the Sea Lion (euthanized at MARS due to fight injuries.) Read the story & see some fotos, starting HERE

July 13

Fledgling Red-Shafted(Northern) Flicker captured in hot greenhouse. Likely a window strike. Taken in to MARS the next day. Did not survive.

Snowy Owl, likely a young of this year, reported down in a grassy field. Capture attempted. Snowy Owl flew off & this Owl or another Snowy was spotted four other times around Hornby, but never captured.

2013

February 17

Large Eagle found in Helliwell, injured from fighting, likely (euthanized at MARS due to multiple fight injuries.) Read the capture story & see fotos of the Eagle HERE

May 7

Adult male Eagle, injured from electrocution (euthanized at MARS due to electrocution injuries)

May 18

Great Blue Heron from the area near the Hornby ferry (euthanized at MARS due to infected injuries). Read the story HERE

July 8

"Big Blue" - bald eaglet from Tribune Bay area (evaluated and treated at MARS, transferred to OWL in August) Read the story & see fotos HERE

"Salal" - bald eaglet from Whaling Station Bay area (evaluated and treated at MARS, to be transferred to OWL in August) Read the story & see fotos HERE

August 20

Seal Pup reported in Helliwell. Two searches from the Park unsuccessful. The next day a search done of the shore where Pup was last seen & tonight is a search of the shore from a kayak. (edited to add: this seal pup was never located)

October 19

Seal Pup found by a family walking Helliwell Provincial Park. The pup was beached & had bleeding tail wounds. The family had him under a tub when i arrived with the Eagle kennel. They were able to herd him into the kennel then we took turns carrying him out to the parking lot. The family transported him to Ford Cove where he was taken by water taxi thanks to Jim Funk, to a pick up person on Vancouver Island. Pup arrived at Saltspring & is now in care. Story can be found here.

"Zen" - Great Horned Owl, stunned when he flew into a window, after which he took refuge in a chicken coop. Rescued by winterwren and transported to MARS. Read his story HERE

March 4

Canada Goose spotted dragging the left wing at Ford Cove. Gustival & booni, assisted by Louis the Orca kayaker captured the injured Goose. Wing had terrible compound fracture, big bone sticking out, wing upside down & inside out, dragging. booni kept him overnight covered in warm spot, then he was taken to the 8am Hornby ferry & transported across Denman by Mike & Shelley, picked up at Buckley Bay by Allison, but Shelley ended up going all the way as the carrier was too big for Allison*s car. Examined by Reg & euthanized upon arrival. Story & fotos can be found here.

March 9

Small Seal, rescued by kayakers on Denman. Hornby carrier taken to them by Jim Funk*s Water Taxi & booni. Seal transferred from kayak to big kennel then boated to Deep Bay on Vancouver Island where Seal was transferred to a smaller kennel & driven to Nanaimo for another transfer to eventually end up in care on Saltspring Island. Story can be found here.

May 9

Female or juvenile Purple Finch with conjunctivitis. Captured & sent to MARS. Was released by MARS. Story & fotos can be found here.

May 27

Rufous Hummingbird found down in someone*s yard. i suggested she call MARS for instructions. Finder thought Hummer was a fledgling, so was left to see if parent would come feed them. In the morning, still doing poorly, so she began feeding the little one nectar every half hour. Perked up, but not enough. Found CHEK TV News car in the lineup & they transported the box to Buckley Bay where they were met by another volunteer & delivered to MARS for care. Hummer doesn*t appear to be cat-caught or window collision.